Grinds very well for espresso after performing internal adjustments from the factory default setting. The default setting would be fine for other grinds such as drip.

Negative Product Points

Solis/Starbucks should ship it with the burrs set closer so that adjustment isn‘t needed

Detailed Commentary

When I got this grinder, I couldn‘t get a fine enough grind even at the finest setting. I‘d previously seen newsgroup posts about how to adjust the range of settings, so I searched alt.coffee and found the instructions. After performing the adjustment (I set my grind range 3 "stops" higher), I get a great espresso grind now.

I‘m very happy with it and would recommend it to others, with the caveat that you will probably need to make the adjustments if you use it for espresso. It‘s not difficult, all you need is a small flatblade screwdriver and patience. You have to remove the case, a few other parts, and then shift a multi-holed ring a few holes over...just be careful doing it since plastic parts can break if you‘re impatient. I‘m sure if you break something, it will void your warranty!

If you can‘t find the original posts for this procedure, here‘s my summary (I‘ve done it 3 times now, moving it one "stop" at a time):

Unplug the grinder, turn the bean hopper counterclockwise fully until it disengages and you can lift it up and remove it.

Pull the on/off dial straight out with your bare hands. It‘s held in place by 2 plastic tabs on its side, so it resist coming loose...be patient and don‘t give up.

Remove the base cover by sliding a thin flatblade screwdriver into the slots on the underside of the machine. Gently lever the screwdriver blade to slightly release the tabs holding the cover on, then pop it off...again, be patient here.

There‘s a plastic cover over the grinding mechanism and internal components...it‘s visible on the outside when the machine is assembled, showing the grinding settings on its side, and has kind of a tripod shape. This piece simply lifts up and off.

The top burr is set in a piece of plastic with a tab on each side. Just lift it up and off.

You will see the adjustment ring, probably white. It has prongs on its lower side which fit into another ring underneath it with holes evenly spaced around it. Turn this ring completely counterclockwise. Locate one of the prongs by looking underneath, then mark it and the matching spot of the lower ring with a felt pen, so you know where your original setting was.

There are 4 slots in the top ring, in which you can slide your screwdriver blade and gently pry up, until the whole top ring is released. Be very careful and patient doing this so you don‘t break the plastic parts.

Once the ring is free, rotate it counterclockwise so the prong is positioned above another hole and then snap it back down into place (I had to move mine 3 holes to get a good espresso grind).

Now replace the top burr into the ring and reassemble the whole unit. Be sure you align the top burr properly so it drop into the nested position (should be obvious) and the on/off dial needs to be aligned so that the "pointer" is straight down in the off position. Put the hopper back on and rotate it to the espresso setting and grind some beans!